China's National People's Congress approved a new law in December 2002 that promotes Chinese private education development, including at the higher education level. It gives private institutions privileges and favorable policies enjoyed by their public counterparts, including tax and other financial benefits.

Many Japanese private institutions, including half the junior colleges (which cater heavily to women), have lost money in the last two years. Causes include decreasing overall enrollments stemming from a falling birth rate, economic recession, and an increase in the number of new institutions. Some of the troubled private institutions have had to shut down. Others pursue policy to avoid this fate. Cost cutting falls heavily on staff. Measures to make institutions more attractive often center on attracting nontraditional students--businesspeople, homemakers, and retirees.

As one of nearly 7,000 St. John's students who receive TAP grants and one of about 190 in its HEOP program, she is not alone in her concerns. Although much attention has focused on how Mr. Pataki's budget would affect the state's public universities, private colleges and universities like St. John's would also be affected.